Prince Philip was apparently ‘very randy’ as a young man

The Duke of Edinburgh is known for his quick quips, but it seems that he may have picked up his naughty sense of humour from his childhood friends after an old Navy colleague happily commented on his cheeky behaviour as a young man.

Former naval commander Keith Evans, 97, who served alongside Prince Philip in the late 1940s, joked that the Queen's consort was “a bit randy” when he knew him, before adding “Not a ‘bit.’ Very.”

Evans, who met Prince Philip in 1947 - the year he married Queen Elizabeth - visited his old school, Pangbourne College while Prince Philip was there with the Queen to mark its centenary. When asked about his memories of the 95-year-old Duke, he told a reporter: "He was a bit randy but you had better not put that down,” before changing his mind and deciding he was happy to speak on record.

Cmd Evans also gave an insight into life in the Navy, explaining that when the then-Leuitenant Mountbatten had requested time off to visit his future father-in-law, King George VI, to confirm that he wanted to marry Elizabeth, he and the captain decided to make things more difficult...

“I happened to be secretary to the captain. The captain, who was a little mischievous, said to me, ‘He is a bit junior to you. Let’s keep him waiting in your office while we have a glass of gin.’ Which we did.”

Keith Evans pictured outside his old school/AAP

Later in the day, he showed the Duke a letter he’d sent him that was addressed to “My dear Scratch”. The note was a thank-you after Evans had written to the prince congratulating him on his 1947 engagement.

In a move worthy of the Duke of Edinburgh himself, Evans continued with the jokes throughout the day - later about Prince Philip’s upcoming retirement. “Like Prince Philip, I’m standing down from most things in August,” he laughed.

“I think it is rather good news,” he said before apparently referring to the Queen: “He will do what he wants rather than what she tells him to do.”